Overview & Reviews

Porsche cars have a virtually untarnished reputation and are considered among the finest performance vehicles in the world. It's a reputation that's well-deserved. With razor-sharp handling and power aplenty, Porsche vehicles offer a driving experience like no other. It's little wonder that, for many, the marque has come to define the sports car category. For years, the only Porsches available were sleek sports cars, but the manufacturer recently expanded its lineup to include other types of vehicles.

The brand has its roots in the Porsche Engineering Office, founded in Stuttgart, Germany, by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. Porsche brought with him years of experience as an automotive engineer; in the '20s, while employed with Daimler, his skill was tapped to create Mercedes' iconic SS and SSK sports cars. Porsche has long had close ties with Volkswagen, and the first Porsche vehicles were small two-seat sports cars that were largely based on VW chassis. From 1948-'50, most of these early Porsche cars (the brainchild of Porsche and his son Ferry) were actually built in Austria before production was switched to Zuffenhausen, Germany. Ferdinand's first real production car was the VW Beetle, so it was no surprise that his sports cars used those components and had their air-cooled engine mounted in the rear.

The 1950s saw the birth of two icons, the 356 Speedster with its low-cut windshield and the lightweight, midengined 550 Spyder. Both cars helped Porsche rack up a multitude of wins on the racetrack. In the mid-'60s, the 356 made way for the revered 911. Powered by an all-new six-cylinder engine, the coupe scored two consecutive wins at Monte Carlo. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, the 911's air-cooled flat-six engine was located in the rear of the vehicle.

By the time the '70s rolled around, Porsche had introduced the 914 (the "affordable" Porsche with a midengine design and a targa top), the mighty 911 turbo, the disrespected 924 (powered by a weak front-mounted, water-cooled inline four) and the flagship 928 (front-mounted V8, four-seat coupe). The '80s saw the birth of the 956, a car that went on to become the most successful racecar of all time. The twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive 959 was also launched; it became the first sports car to win the Paris-Dakar Rally and the street version could hit nearly 200 mph. The athletic 944 debuted in 1983, as did a convertible version of the 911, something that had been missing for some years. The '80s also saw the rebirth of the 924, now with some muscle courtesy of the 944's strong-for-the-time (147-horsepower) inline four.

By the early 1990s the 928 had been discontinued and the 944 was replaced by the similar 968. Because of a lack of dynamic product and a tough market climate, Porsche was suffering financially. The company's savior, the Boxster roadster, debuted in 1997 and brought back the spirit of the old 550 Spyder. In 2003, Porsche committed what purists considered a sin as the company brought the Cayenne SUV to the market. However, once those enthusiasts discovered the Cayenne's sporting performance (especially in 450-hp turbo form) all was forgiven. The following year, Porsche brought out the ferocious (605-hp) Carrera GT supercar.

Today, Porsche's lineup is quite broad for a specialty automaker and now even includes a luxury super sport sedan, the Panamera. Throughout its history, Porsche has exhibited amazing resilience, weathering changes in consumer tastes and the economic climate. As such, it's safe to assume that this ever-robust company will continue to be known for making vehicles that excel at performance, luxury and usability.

User Reviews:

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  Snap your head back - 2005 Porsche Cayenne
  By TimHicks66 - May 11 - 11:40 pm

  I absolutely love the Cayenne Turbo I purchased. I have had it for one year and have had no issues other than standard maintenance. It is fun to driver and faster than anything should be for as big as it is. It is also very practicle and has nice "True" SUV features.

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  Fantastic - 2007 Porsche 911
  By Joe B. - May 11 - 11:06 pm

  This car is too much fun. My only complaint is that it has overly complex radio settings. It has great styling and performance.

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  Great Everyday Driver - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By RayBen - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Build quality is A+ . Turbo produces tremendous power but suffers from Turbo lag off the line. The only truely bad point is that the Cayenne Turbos exhaust is "Mercedes Quiet" it produces no exhaust rumble. Porsches TV add shows a Turbo but the sound is that of a regular non Turbo Porsche. Shame on them.

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  Cayenne S - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By icnsltmfg - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Having driven a MB ML430 for the last 3 years, and also driving a Ferrari as a second car, This is the most fun I am having with a vehicle. It drives fantastic, handles very well, very smooth, very fast, very tight, and gets stares from everyone. You sit nice and high, but never feel like its going to roll or loose control even when you throw it around. The power is great, but the tiptronic sometimes puts it in 6 gear too quickly. Too many options to choose from, and some options should be standard, but after 2K miles I am hooked big time, and sometimes leave the Ferrari in the garage and take the Cayenne.

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  In LOVE - 2008 Porsche Cayenne
  By prettylili03 - May 9 - 3:43 am

  I waited 3 weeks for the delivery of this beauty and it was all well worth it! This SUV is simplicity and elegance at its best! I fell in love as soon as I saw it! It performs 10x better than the Subaru Tribeca I traded in. I love to hear the roar while on the road and its incredibly comfortable both in the front and back! This is a definite keeper!

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  Among the best! If you dont like the design - see it in person! - 2012 Porsche Panamera
  By nyfo - May 8 - 7:25 pm

  Got my brand new Panamera a week ago for my birthday! Traded in 2011 Z4 Sdrive3.5i. Have to say that: Panamera handles and takes turns WAY better that a roadster that was intended to do that better by definition. The car is very adequately powered, feels incredibly light for its size and the interior is a killer! You get the feeling of getting into a jet cabin the second you step into it and that feeling never leaves you through the whole ride! Its not too soft (especially on 20" turbo wheels), yet road bumps do not bother you whatsoever. Very luxurious and unique. Test drive it and you will stop looking...

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  What an experienc - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Banjoman - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I also own a 2001 Cabriolet, which, until the Cayenne, I thought was the ultmate vehicle. Problem is, I live in Colorado (not a problem, actually) and the 911 stays parked most of 5 months a year. The Cayenne is a wonderful daily driver. I test drove the BMW X and my wife drives a Lexus GX. The GX is a great vehicle as well but the Cayenne is much more of a drivers vehicle. You get all of the benefits of a 4WD while actually having fun driving. This is the ultimate Colorado vehicle.

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  PiMp Car - 2003 Porsche Cayenne
  By Adis - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Its the best car of the year i would say it works great

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  More fun than you can imagine - 2007 Porsche Cayman
  By jnscolo - May 2 - 2:13 am

  The balanced nature of this car stuns me every time I drive it. The combination of chassis, steering, transmission and engine are the best I have ever experienced. It is an easy car to drive around town, but one time on a twisty mountain road is all it takes to feel the superlative power and handling. It is also the best-looking car Ive ever owned. The Cayman is surprisingly practical: trunks front and rear mean errands, weekend getaways for two, or even two sets of golf clubs get the green light. The car has been mechanically flawless for 2+ years, although it has two niggling rattles.

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  No complaints - 2010 Porsche Panamera
  By WIndsailor - May 1 - 10:00 am

  This is my fifth Porsche and unless they can top the Panamera, its the best. It has a Jekyll and Hyde personality thats available on demand. It cossets the passengers when treated casually and exposes its heritage when demanded. A design job well done.